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Working quickly, a Maui County Council committee on Tuesday vetted and recommended for approval seven county department heads appointed by Mayor Richard Bissen Jr.
The first day of vetting was less contentious and drawn out than the process four years ago to vet then-Mayor Michael Victorino's appointees, with hours of testimony both for and against, and council members spending hours questioning some appointees whose past decisions they'd disagreed with.
But this time around, the vetting and recommendations came easier, with unanimous votes recommending that the appointments be approved by the full council.
Speaking during a vote for one of the appointments, Council Member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez thanked Bissen "for seeking out new directors when it makes sense," for some departments, and "recognizing the solid leadership that we already have in place" for others.
She also thanked Bissen for sitting next to each appointee throughout the daylong meeting.
"It speaks volumes you are there supporting them in person," Rawlins-Fernandez said.
Half of the 12 appointees are returning directors and department heads from Victorino's administration.
The council's Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee recommended for approval Kekuhaupio Akana as managing director, Victoria Takayesu as corporation counsel, Andrew Martin as prosecuting attorney, John Stufflebean as water supply director, Scott Teruya as finance director, Kathleen Aoki as planning director and Jordan Molina as public works director.
Martin, Teruya and Molina held the same roles in the previous administration.
Takayesu and Aoki have also worked in the departments they intend to lead.
All received 9-0 votes in favor; Takayesu received an 8-0 vote, as Council Member Tamara Paltin was absent and excused.
The committee recessed around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday after hearing remarks from both Bissen and Shayne Agawa, his appointee for the Environmental Management Department. The meeting will resume at 9 a.m. today in Council Chambers and online, beginning with public testimony on Agawa's appointment.
Appointees still waiting to appear before the committee are Lori Tsuhako, the acting director of the Housing and Human Concerns Department; Marc Takamori, acting director of the Transportation Department; Patrick McCall, acting director of the Parks and Recreation Department; and Rogerene "Kali" Arce, acting director of the Agriculture Department. Tsuhako, Takamori and Arce are also carryovers from the previous administration.
Appointees for the most part sailed through the vetting compared to other appointees in the past, but some still faced challenging questions Tuesday.
Rawlins-Fernandez noted how Akana, a former Maui Police Department officer, had helped the retired judge during his mayoral campaign and asked if the job appointment was because of the work he had done.
"A bunch of retired officers did campaign for Mayor Bissen because of our aloha and because of our appreciation for where he stood as a young prosecutor. ... I never really thought this would come my way," said Akana, who was also deputy police chief and was a founder of A Cup of Cold Water, a houseless outreach program on wheels.
Akana said the job is not a "political favor" but a decision he himself made, as he has "great faith" in Bissen, who has shown great instinct, leadership and character, and was "very brave" in the past as a young deputy prosecutor as he and Akana went after a "very dark element of society" in their work.
Responding to another question from a council member, Akana said that the Bissen administration would not continue a practice of past administrations in which council members needed prior approval of the mayor to engage with department heads.
Stufflebean, a water engineer who was perhaps the least known of the appointees to the council, also fielded some challenging questions, including one from Council Member Gabe Johnson on whether or not he thought water is a public trust.
"I do," Stufflebean said, noting he has read up on water issues in Hawaii.
"Maybe it should be a public trust everywhere," he added.
Council Vice Chairwoman Yuki Lei Sugimura also asked if Stufflebean already had plans to resolve the longstanding Upcountry water meter list, which has forced residents to wait years for water meters.
He said it was still early for him to offer a solution but said it is something he would focus on.
Stufflebean said he comes from Arizona where he spent decades of his life, and in a desert "you understand the value of water."
He also has worked in local government, where he was responsible for the operational and administrative aspects of potable and recycled water systems, wastewater and stormwater management along with solid waste management and watershed protection.
He also has a background in leading sustainability efforts in Missouri, California and Australia.
Stufflebean said he moved to Maui over a year ago and plans to make Maui his permanent home.
"I have a passion for water. It really resonates with me, that value that is put on water here on Maui," Stufflebean said.
He is already looking at the water infrastructure the county has and will look to make improvements, and has also attended a Board of Water Supply meeting.
Approval of the appointed directors now heads to the full council for a final vote at its March 10 meeting. The County Council has 60 days from the time Bissen makes the appointments to confirm or deny them.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.